Good news is delivered.

On April 16, I received my letter of acceptance as a heart transplant candidate from the University of Washington Hospital. The letter was a notice that I was going to be part of the regional heart transplant process. The letter brought tears to both Rose and I as this was something we had been waiting for, for a long time. It was a simple letter that said I was accepted by the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS). There are a series of protocol that have been accepted across this country by each hospital that is involved with transplant issues. These procedures were set up to keep the process of distribution of organs as fair as possible. Every hospital wants to help their patience. Suitable organs are a very precious commodity. This was an important letter showing we are now in line for a heart. The next question asked is "How long?" A person will get a call based upon the urgency of their need. If your are on mechanical heart and lung machines, you are at the top of the list. If you are seeing a steady digression of your health, but can manage fairly well (where I am as of June 2009), then you have a wait. Also a heart becomes available based on Blood Type, size and issues that pertain to you rejecting the heart. Typically a recipient is notified and a few "back up" recipients are also called into the hospital. It may be the size of the heart will not fit into the chest of the recipient, then a back up is considered, so someone will be walking out on their own power with a new heart. I am learning that since the discovery of my disease in February, the process has moved fast. I do get frustrated as I knew well before the Doctors that something was wrong. I tell people that having the letter of acceptance for a transplant is like suiting up for the game, even though I will likely be sitting on the bench for a bit. But it is possible that I could be called at any moment that I need to be in Seattle for the new heart.

At the start of April I was still working in the office. In May, I spent so much time in the hospital, that I made arrangements with my employer to step away from work until I had a new heart. More on that next.